Senate forms committee to probe Benard Kiala's impeachment

Kenya: The Senate has set up a Select Committee to probe charges brought against the recently impeached Machakos Deputy Governor Benard Kiala.

Speaker Ekwe Ethuro read the grounds under which the County Assembly of Machakos initiated the removal of Kiala from office, and said the Select Committee would either verify or dismiss the charges.

The assembly accused Kiala of gross violation of the Constitution, County Government Act, Public Officers Ethics Act, National Cohesion and Integrity Act and Leadership and Integrity Act.

The House approved the formation of the 11-member committee, which will select its chairperson.

The committee members include Lenny Kivuti (Embu), Sammy Leshore (Samburu), Mutahi Kagwe (Nyeri), Abu Chaiba (Lamu), Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Kennedy Mong’are Okong’o (Nyamira) and nominated senators Martha Wangari, Agnes Zani, Njoroge Ben and Daisy Kanainza.

Moving the motion, Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki told the House that the committee would investigate grounds for the proposed removal of Kiala from office.

“The committee is expected to report to the Senate within 10 days of its appointment,” said Prof Kindiki.

Before moving the motion, Senator George Khaniri sought the guidance of Ethuro on whether the matter was admissible in the House, noting that Article 181 and Standing Order 67 was silent on the procedure to remove a deputy governor from office.

Ethuro affirmed that the matter was admissible in the House.

The County Assembly endorsed the impeachment of Kiala last week.